"Have your say on Europe" - call to action for EU Local Councillors
Europe Day, celebrated every year on 9 May, honours peace and unity in Europe. It marks the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, which laid the foundation for today’s European Union.
As EU Local Councillors, we invite you to take part in this year's celebrations by organising a local initiative and engaging citizens, young people, peers, and stakeholders. Through local initiatives, we trust that EU Local Councillors can facilitate dialogues, stimulate debates about the EU and bring the latter closer to the local realities.
Join the initiative and discover below how to organise your local event!
Please note that submission is open only to members of the EU Local Councillors network.
Download the call to action in your language
Read and download the call to action - available in all 24 official EU languages - and send your proposal by Monday 27 April 2026 (deadline extended!).
After reading the call, please complete the online survey form to submit your proposal.
- български
- español
- čeština
- dansk
- Deutsch
- eesti
- ελληνικά
- français
- Gaeilge
- hrvatski
- italiano
- latviešu
- lietuvių
- magyar
- Malti
- Nederlands
- polski
- português
- română
- slovenčina
- slovenščina
- suomi
- svenska
Who can participate?
- The initiative is open exclusively to members of the EU Local Councillors network.
- Partnerships with local authorities, CoR members, EUROPE DIRECT centres, schools, universities, associations, and other local stakeholders are encouraged.
- Events can involve citizens, students, local and regional representatives, and community organisations.
Why organise a local event?
Organising a local event for Europe Day 2026 is an opportunity to bring the European debate closer to citizens and highlight the role of local communities in shaping the future of Europe.
By hosting a dialogue or initiative in your municipality or region, you can:
- encourage open discussions on European policies and priorities
- connect EU initiatives with local realities and concerns
- engage citizens, students and stakeholders in the European debate
- collect ideas and perspectives from your community on the future of Europe
Examples of event formats
Local initiatives can take place in person or online and may take different forms depending on the local context.
Examples include:
- Local dialogues
Participatory debates where speakers and citizens exchange views on EU topics in an open and interactive format. - European sessions
Discussions organised within local or regional councils focusing on EU policies and their impact on the territory. - Workshops or information sessions
Short presentations on EU policies or programmes — including discussions on future EU priorities — followed by an open exchange with participants. - Innovative formats
Creative initiatives designed by councillors to engage citizens in new ways.
Support from EU institutions
EU institutions will support the initiative by providing:
- Promotion of local events through the EU Local Councillors website and communication channels
- Branding materials such as visuals and templates
- Guidance materials on organising events and EU-related topics
- The possibility to invite Committee of the Regions members as speakers, upon request
- Access to Team EUROPE DIRECT speakers in several Member States
Key dates
- 16 March 2026
Call for proposals sent to EU Councillors
- 27 April 2026
Deadline for submission of proposal (deadline extended!)
- 7 - 16 May 2026
Date of local events across Europe
- 22 May 2026
Deadline to submit feedback report
Communication materials
Discover and download the official communication materials for Europe Day 2026 - ready to use for your events, activities and social media:
Get inspired
Do you want to get inspiration from Europe Day actions taken by EU Local Councillors in the past ?
Discover in Futurium what local councillors organised last year and let their stories spark your own ideas for 2026.
